A Grounded Theory Study of Wellness and College and University Leaders

Lorenz, Gregory F.

ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Colorado State University

The projections for higher education indicate a large number of senior academic leadership posts being vacated in the future due to retirement of existing leaders. The gap in leadership positions lends itself to an increased importance for developing a pipeline of talent to fill these positions. The leadership lifestyle lived by academic leaders is one of fast pace, high responsibility, and little personal time. This lifestyle may be unattractive for potential leaders. Therefore, the creation of a climate that allows potential leaders to view academic leadership positions as desirable and achievable while allowing for personal wellness is necessary. This grounded theory study aimed to determine the meaning of wellness for academic leaders in higher education and better understand how they achieved or maintained wellness in their lives. 7 academic leaders were interviewed. The results yielded a grounded theory called wellness maturity with four supporting axial categories: intention, gauge of wellness, reflection, and adaptation. Sitting within the cultural backdrop of the academic leadership lifestyle, wellness maturity represents an optimal wellness destination with constant movement towards the unique destination for each individual. It is represented as a continuum with low wellness maturity on one end and high wellness maturity on the opposite end. Although it is important for individual leaders to have an understanding of what wellness means for themselves, it is more important for leaders to identify the importance of wellness in their lives. As the leader enters the wellness maturity continuum and moves towards the destination of wellness maturity, he or she engages in a process of self-reflection. Reflection occurs about one's place on the continuum and gauge of wellness. The result of this reflective process is adaptation to the personal and professional challenges associated with the leadership lifestyle. The results of this study have application for leaders seeking to maintain or achieve wellness within the context of a leadership lifestyle. The major contributions of this study are that it adds to the literature of wellness and particularly higher education leadership, and it offers greater insight into practical applications and considerations necessary for the achievement or maintenance of wellness. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]